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Transition to Residency

Recommended Standards for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Application and Interview Processes

The Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) and the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) recommend these specialty-wide standards for the 2023–2024 obstetrics and gynecology residency application cycle. These recommendations are based on data collected over the past several interview cycles, discussions at the CREOG retreats, CREOG and APGO meetings, survey feedback from applicants and program directors, and the Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One (RRR) project workgroups.

For academic year 2023–2024, we request that obstetrics and gynecology program directors adopt the following recommended guidelines:

  • Set the application submission deadline to October 1, 2023
  • Release all interview offers on October 24, 2023 (with rolling offers to follow depending on the response each program receives)
  • Limit program interview invitations to the number of interview slots available
  • Allow a minimum of 48 hours after an interview invitation email has been sent for the applicant to accept or decline
  • Begin interviews no earlier than October 31, 2023
  • Release final status to applicants (interview, reject, waitlist) no later than December 2, 2023
  • Commit to virtual interviews for all applicants, including local students
  • One Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) should be included in applicants’ ERAS packages. The SLOE will replace one of the traditional letters of recommendation (LOR) or the Chair’s letter; applicants should still include two OBGYN LORs (traditional or Chair where available) and one other LOR. The updated 2023–2024 SLOE template and applicable resources can be found at https://apgo.org/page/rrrapplicant.
  • Program Signaling: Each applicant may choose to send a total of 18 signals with their ERAS application (3 gold signals for programs of highest interest and 15 silver signals for programs of high interest)
    • Residency Programs must indicate participation when registering for ERAS
  • We are utilizing a tool with AMA FREIDA for students to use to explore residency programs called the Alignment Check Index (ACI). Programs that participate in this tool provide their recruiting priorities in 6 categories. Applicants will not see the program priorities. Applicants will be able to enter certain information about their background, experiences and academics and receive a list of programs that may align with the programs’ recruiting priorities. The ACI tool and AMA FREIDA search filters are intended to complement personal advising and other current tools available to applicants as the applicant considers their career interests and learning styles.

We hope these changes will help students and programs by making the application process easier.

Thank you for all you do for our students/applicants and please provide feedback or let us know if you have any questions at [email protected].